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Positronic Industries
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What makes Positronic’s new
PosiBand ® contact interface
a significant improvement?
T he PosiBand ® contact system has many
­a dvantages over the legacy split tine design.
POSITRONIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
423 N Campbell Avenue
PO Box 8247
Springfield, MO 65801
Toll Free (800) 641-4054
Telephone (417) 866-2322
Fax (417) 866-4115
info@connectpositronic.com
is more robust than the split tine contact, which can be pried open
7 PinosiBand
harsh ­environments, resulting in reduced normal force and degradation of
electrical performance.
osiBand has greater surface area at the male and female contact interface,
7 P­resulting
in more consistent electrical performance.
has lower average insertion forces, resulting in greater ease in mating,
7 P­eosiBand
specially in larger high density connectors. The average lower insertion force is
­accomplished while meeting or exceeding performance requirements.
PosiBand’s contact body does not require annealing of the crimp ­barrels,
7 Tashedoes
the split tine design. This eliminates concern of unintentionally heat-treating
the mating end of the contact, which can cause electrical failure.
POSITRONIC INDUSTRIES, S.A.S.
Zone Industrielle d’Engachies
46 Route d’Engachies
France 32020 Auch Cedex
Telephone 33 5 62 63 44 91
Fax 33 5 62 63 51 17
contact@connectpositronic.com
POSITRONIC ASIA PTE LTD.
3014A Ubi Road 1 #07-01
Singapore 408703
Telephone (65) 6842 1419
Fax (65) 6842 1421
singapore@connectpositronic.com
osiBand is qualified under SAE AS39029 and MIL-DTL-24308 specifications.
7 PPosiBand
is also ­­qualified under GSFC S-311-P4/08 Rev C and GSFC
S-311-P4/10 Rev C to the higher 40 gram contact separation test requirement.
7 See page 4 for PosiBand’s electrical characteristics.
H
igh reliability connectors
utilize female closed entry
contacts that provide an
unbroken ring of solid material at the
face of the contact. The closed entry
feature is crucial in preventing damage to female contacts used in harsh
­environments, repeated mating cycles, blind mate applications and applications requiring highest reliability.
New MDX Series connector
f­eaturing PosiBand contacts
A common closed entry design utilized by connector manufacturers is a split tine and sleeve concept. The main part of the
contact has split tines to provide normal force on male contacts when connectors are mated.
A sleeve is placed over the main part of the contact to provide a closed entry.
continued on next page
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Catalog CBR-0001 Rev. A1
2
Positronic Industries
The sleeve surrounding the split tines offers greater contact reliability when compared
to a similar contact without the closed entry feature. The sleeve serves to limit the ­distance
the contact tines can open. If female contact tines open too far, they may not return to their
original position. This may cause diminished normal forces and can result in ­intermittent
or open electrical circuits.
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Female contact tines can open too far if an oversized pin is inserted into the contact. The
most common cause for damage can occur if a male contact is inserted into a female contact
at an angle. Rocking the connectors back and forth during mating and unmating can pry the
female contacts open.
Utilizing a sleeve to provide a closed entry feature does allow split tine contacts greater
r­ eliability. This design has been used for decades because it provided a degree of reliability
at an affordable price. However, split tine contacts are still susceptible to being pried open
if care is not taken when cable connectors are mated and ­unmated to other cable or board
mount connectors.
Disassembled closed entry split tine contact
The split tine design has other
i­ nherent weaknesses. One weakness
is the need to anneal the crimp barrel.
The material used to manufacture
split tine female contacts must have
Assembled closed entry split tine contact
elasticity to allow the tines to open
when receiving the male contact and
then to return to their original ­position after the male contact is ­disengaged. Unfortunately,
elasticity is not a characteristic that is desirable for the crimp barrel. When crimping a wire onto
a contact, the material must be ductile to allow a permanent set after the ­crimping operation.
Split tine contacts are manufactured using a material with elastic properties. The crimp barrel is then annealed to soften the material so a proper crimp can be achieved. If the ­annealing
process is not carefully controlled, the mating portion of the contact may ­unintentionally be
annealed. This will result in diminished normal forces and potential e­ lectrical failures.
Other weaknesses of split tine contacts revolve around the fact that the tines must be
­depressed to provide normal force. The depressed tines slope inward and form a “point”
at the mating end of the contact. If the forming operation is not carefully executed, proper
­normal force will not be achieved. Also, since the tines slope toward a point, there is a reduced area of contact between the male and female contact interface. The interface consists
of a small ring at the tip of the female contact. Electrical contact depends solely on this small
area between the male and female interface.
continued on next page
www.conne c t p o s i t r o n i c . c o m
POSITRONIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
423 N Campbell Avenue
PO Box 8247
Springfield, MO 65801
Toll Free (800) 641-4054
Telephone (417) 866-2322
Fax (417) 866-4115
info@connectpositronic.com
POSITRONIC INDUSTRIES, S.A.S.
Zone Industrielle d’Engachies
46 Route d’Engachies
France 32020 Auch Cedex
Telephone 33 5 62 63 44 91
Fax 33 5 62 63 51 17
contact@connectpositronic.com
POSITRONIC ASIA PTE LTD.
3014A Ubi Road 1 #07-01
Singapore 408703
Telephone (65) 6842 1419
Fax (65) 6842 1421
singapore@connectpositronic.com
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Positronic Industries
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Positronic’s new PosiBand technology takes a unique new approach for contacts,
­eliminating many of the weaknesses of the split tine design.
POSITRONIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
PosiBand contacts utilize a twopiece contact design. Each piece
serves a separate function. The main
body of the contact provides the
­mechanical platform for the contact
system. This includes a true closed
entry contact opening. The PosiBand
spring clip provides normal force on
the male contact.
423 N Campbell Avenue
PO Box 8247
Springfield, MO 65801
Toll Free (800) 641-4054
Telephone (417) 866-2322
Fax (417) 866-4115
info@connectpositronic.com
POSITRONIC INDUSTRIES, S.A.S.
Zone Industrielle d’Engachies
46 Route d’Engachies
France 32020 Auch Cedex
Telephone 33 5 62 63 44 91
Fax 33 5 62 63 51 17
contact@connectpositronic.com
3014A Ubi Road 1 #07-01
Singapore 408703
Telephone (65) 6842 1419
Fax (65) 6842 1421
singapore@connectpositronic.com
Assembled size 22 and size 16 PosiBand contacts
The PosiBand system does not have a split tine female contact that can be pried open during
the mating process. Instead, it uses the PosiBand spring clip, which is very robust and less
susceptible to damage. The PosiBand system is much more rugged than traditional female
contact designs.
Another important feature of the PosiBand system is the use of brass to manufacture the base
contact. Brass has excellent properties for crimping wire onto contacts, eliminating the need
for annealing, thus avoiding the potential for intermittent or open ­electrical circuits due to
­improper heat treating. The base contact can be made of brass because the PosiBand spring clip
provides contact normal force. The spring clip is made of spring ­tempered beryllium copper.
PosiBand Cross Section
chamfer
unbroken
ring
spring clip
electrical paths
POSITRONIC ASIA PTE LTD.
Disassembled size 16 PosiBand contact
The PosiBand system also increases the
­interface area between male and female contacts
when compared to the sloped design of split tine
contacts. The greater contact area provides more
reliable electrical integrity. On a micro level,
there are a greater number of electrical paths
through the contact interface. The greater contact
area provides better resistance to discontinuity
during vibration. The greater contact area
may also ­minimize the effects to electrical
­performance due to corrosion over time.
Greater contact area provided by the PosiBand system does not increase insertion forces;
in fact, the PosiBand design provides a more ­consistent insertion force value, which results
in a lower average insertion force when c­ ompared to the split tine design.
PosiBand parent technology has been utilized in connectors, including MIL-DTL-28748
military connectors, for decades. The PosiBand is qualified under SAE AS39029 and
MIL-DTL-24308 specifications. PosiBand is also qualified under GSFC S-311-P4. Specific
PosiBand technology has been used by Positronic for many years and is now being imported
into a variety of products.
continued on next page
w w w . c o n n e c t p o s i t r onic.com
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Positronic Industries
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Positronic is now offering the
­PosiBand system in standard density and
high density D-subminiature ­connectors,
combination D-subminiature connectors,
as well as subminiature rectangular
­connectors. Other Positronic products
will utilize this advanced contact system
in the near future.
Printed circuit board compliant Press-in
Subminiature Rectangular Connector
Lastly, although other alternate contact interface designs in the marketplace carry a heavy
premium in cost, this is not the case with the PosiBand. Products using the PosiBand system
will be priced the same as products using the previous design.
Please contact your local Positronic representative for more information about
this ­r evolutionary design. To find a Positronic representative near you, visit
www.connectpositronic.com.
Electrical Characteristics
POSITRONIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
423 N Campbell Avenue
PO Box 8247
Springfield, MO 65801
Toll Free (800) 641-4054
Telephone (417) 866-2322
Fax (417) 866-4115
info@connectpositronic.com
TEMPERATURE RISE CURVES
Test conducted in accordance with UL1977.
Size 20 PosiBand Contacts
Size 22 PosiBand Contacts
Initial Contact
Resistance:
0.005 ohms, maximum.
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Zone Industrielle d’Engachies
46 Route d’Engachies
France 32020 Auch Cedex
Telephone 33 5 62 63 44 91
Fax 33 5 62 63 51 17
contact@connectpositronic.com
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0
0.004 ohms, maximum.
urve developed using Standard Density D-subminia­
C
ture connectors loaded with size 20 crimp contacts
­terminated to size 20 AWG wire.
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POSITRONIC ASIA PTE LTD.
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TEMPERATURE RISE (ºC)
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RATED CURRENT (AMPS)
urve developed using High Density D-subminiature conC
nectors loaded with size 22 crimp contacts ­terminated to
size 22 AWG wire.
Initial Contact
Resistance:
POSITRONIC INDUSTRIES, S.A.S.
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www.conne c t p o s i t r o n i c . c o m
CONTACTS
LOADED IN
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3014A Ubi Road 1 #07-01
Singapore 408703
Telephone (65) 6842 1419
Fax (65) 6842 1421
singapore@connectpositronic.com